The executive editor and the managing editor of ANG Newspapers have been promoted in the wake of last week’s $1 billion deal that made parent company MediaNews Group Inc. the Bay Area’s largest newspaper publisher.

Last week, a $1 billion deal added the San Jose Mercury News and the Contra Costa Times to Denver-based MediaNews Group’s existing nine Bay Area daily newspapers.

The sale by Sacramento-based McClatchy Co. to MediaNews became final Aug. 2 after it received antitrust clearance earlier that week by the Department of Justice.

“As we move forward, combining the resources of ANG and the Contra Costa Times will give us unique opportunities to broaden our community reach,” Keane said.

“Combined, we are that much stronger on the local news reporting side.”

Also, Mike Jung, currently vice president of advertising and marketing for Contra Costa Newspapers, expands his responsibilities to include ANG Newspapers. Dennis Miller, currently senior vice president ofoperations for ANG, becomes senior vice president of operations for the California Newspaper Partnership — North.

With the two new papers, the Bay Area circulation for all MediaNews papers totals about 700,000, compared with about

400,000 for the Hearst Corp.-owned San Francisco Chronicle.

Last week, as part of the same deal, George Riggs, Mercury News publisher, was named to oversee all of MediaNews’ operations in Northern California. John Armstrong, Contra Costa Times and affiliates president and publisher, was given responsibility for all ANG Newspapers as well.

The Internet and other alternative forms of newsgathering will play an expanded role in the company’s plans, Keane said.